Cutting cases to reduce length

[Stoneke]

I have a bunch of 45-90 Starline cases left over from my 45-90, that I just sold. My Farmingdale Sharps 45-70 has a chamber measuring 2.119 in length. I would like to use the 45-90 cases and trim to the precise length. Would a copper tubing cutter work to remove the greater segment and then use a case trimmer to finalize the operation. Or, any other suggestions.

[cwtebay]

Depends on what a "bunch" is. Tubing cutters work, but a mini chop saw works great! I only got this one to do a few, but I've had it for years now and continue to find uses for it.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210110/2a6ad4d5fec4641cdae37477f42ca819.jpg

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[Winger Ed.]

I'd try the tubing cutter if you don't have a big bucket full of them to do.
Then leave them about 1/16th or so long so you can get 'em true and just right with a regular case trimmer.

[gpidaho]

I cut down a lot of different cases with the Harbor Freight mini chop saw. They aren't expensive and work great. Gp

[Lead pot]

The problem using a tubing cutter is putting on to much pressure it crimp the case in and you need to do some work taking it out also the case has a slight taper and it's soft you will cut threads before it stays in the groove. This is more apt to happen taking a couple tents off with a handy man tubing cutter than a sharp wheeled cutter a plumber would have. And if you have to buy a good tubing cutter you will spend almost as much as the Harbor freight mini saw would cost.
With the small amount you would take off that .45-90 case the Harbor freight shop saw is the way to go. I have one and use it a lot.

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[Bazoo]

Barring a HF mini saw, you can use a regular cutoff wheel or even a dremel cutoff wheel chucked in a drill press. Pends on how handy you are, you can figure a holder for them less you have a Forster case vise. A cabinet screw would do acceptably.

[Stoneke]

We have a Harbor Freight here in town, so I'm going to try that route. Price is not bad and I have a 100+ cases to do. How does the oal change with re-sizing and fire forming. I will be primarily shooting paper patched loads. My Shilo has a .375" freebore.

[country gent]

There is also file and trim dies you can use in your press with a jewelers saw. If you go the harbor Freight saw buy a small vee block while your there with its clamp. This with the rim against the block works as a fixture, once clamped on location in the vise use the vee block clamp to hold cases if needed. Unless you build ypu pr shim your block to the case taper of the case being trimmed you wont get square mouths so you need to compensate for this when doing the rough cut.

[indian joe]

I made a doo lackey to use in the lathe - took a 7/8th unc nut - welded a cap on the back side - then made a trim to length die from a short bolt - turned out to accomodate the case - the rim bottoms out on the cap at back of the nut - the body is kinda like a rough die but some oversize then body is turned to length like a trim to size die - set the nut part up in the 3jaw chuck and just screw the body part in till it holds the rim firm - turn the excess brass off - I had a couple hundred 348 cases to shorten for my 45/75 - this thing took some time to make but sped the job up a lot!

[Winger Ed.]

Ya might look around and see what those .45-90s are selling for.
One of the only places I saw some new ones, they wanted almost $60. for 20 of them.
There was a thread here a few days ago about somebody trying to find some.

You could possibly sell or trade them off to get a greater number of .45-70s.

[Lead pot]

Ya might look around and see what those .45-90s are selling for.
One of the only places I saw some new ones, they wanted almost $60. for 20 of them.
There was a thread here a few days ago about somebody trying to find some.

You could possibly sell or trade them off to get a greater number of .45-70s.


https://www.starlinebrass.com/45-90-brass-45-24

[indian joe]

Ya might look around and see what those .45-90s are selling for.
One of the only places I saw some new ones, they wanted almost $60. for 20 of them.
There was a thread here a few days ago about somebody trying to find some.

You could possibly sell or trade them off to get a greater number of .45-70s.

Good plan ! our LGS has 45/90 for aboot double the cost of 45/70

[Alferd Packer]

yes
before you cut them you can trade them 2 for your 1 45/70 cases at a gunshow.
Those long ones are hard to get.

[robg]

ive cut cases using a hand held copper pipe cutter i used to use when i worked as a plumbers mate 30 odd years ago.

[craneman]

I too have used the tubing cutter but it can be a pain, rolls in the mouth quite a bit, easy to slip and cut a little too short. If I had a bunch to do over again I'd look at a cheap harber freight cutoff saw. Most people seem to get along well with them. Or you could try and find a trim die.

[ndnchf]

Check out this short video I made about the HF chop saw and fixtures I use.

https://youtu.be/7unEiiPN860

[Lead pot]

That's not the way I do it or would do it :D

[country gent]

I believe a vee cut above the movable jaw with a threaded stop pin. make the vee just shorter than the shortest case you will be cutting.

Set case in the vee, slide back to stop, hold and cut.